Barring last minutes events, the election committee responsible for setting the date for Jerusalem Chief Rabbinate elections will convene on Monday, 29 Tishrei 5773, possibly to set a date for the long overdue elections.

Events moved forward last week when Minister of Religious Services (Shas) Yaakov Margi affixed his signature to a document approving six members of the election committee, ending that dispute. The names appearing on the list are;

במבי שלי, דידי הרשקוביץ, אשר אוחנה, י. צפר, זאב בן יוסף ויעקב פשקוס

The list excludes two prominent personalities that appeared earlier, הרב רפי פוירשטיין, a prominent rav in the Tzohar Rabbonim organization, replaced by בן יוסף. הרב דיכובסקי, who was replaced by רב יעקב פשקוס who is affiliated with the Erlau chassidus.

This list was personally approved by Margi and it is supposed to comply with demands that the representatives are indeed representative of the various streams and hashkofos in the city.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat must present his list, and after the lists are approved and the minutes of Margi’s meeting approved, the election committee will hopefully set a date for the election.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)